Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Crowsong - Shelter Eternal
 | This is a two CD set. Disc two is called Eternal and is mostly instrumental. This is lush Surfadelic music in the grand tradition. If you're a fan of The Mermen or The Surf Kings, Eternal will likely get you going! |
Picks: Cattle Call, Mexican Summer, Companion Song, Western, Dark Was The Night Cold Was The Ground
Track by Track Review
Surfadelic (Instrumental)
A big reverb crash and rich guitar tone open the song. Very surf based, with heavy western imagery, "Cattle Call" is a grand visual number with a huge sound and whammy power. Add tremolo guitar and a sense of adventure, and you're there. Very cool!
Surfadelic (Instrumental)
"Mexican Summer" begins with a spooky ambiance, which evolves into gigantic feedback and sustain much as Jim Thomas is prone to generate. It's a dramatic and commanding number with strong eerie images and darkness. Have I mentioned it's very large? It runs at a lumbering pace with thundering sound. Superb!
Surfadelic (Instrumental)
Slithery slide notes create a hickoidal theme in this thoroughly wonderful track. "Companion Song" is on the lighter side, with a playful rhythm and warm melody. This is a very nice track, perhaps influenced a bit by Ry Cooder in his Captain Beefheart and just after days.
Surfadelic (Instrumental)
Tribal drums, rising thunder, an adventurous and engaging melody line, and Mermen-esq structures give "Western" a commanding sound. It's a large track with cool tremolo, multiple guitar parts, and superb drums.
Dark Was The Night Cold Was The Ground Country Slide (Instrumental)
Sullen like post-battle sadness, "Dark Was The Night Cold Was The Ground" gradually rises from a spooky image to slide emotionalism that at times reminds me of Ron Wood. It's a guitar solo with rich textures and backwoods country blues blood. The slide guitar is just luscious!